Plants that keep bees and wasps away

By Jacques de Bug - 05/19/14

We need bees. They pollenate our flowers and plants, and even give us sweet sweet honey. A healthy ecosystem has bees. There's no way around that. Wasps are also beneficial. They eat many pests that munch on our crops. They are certainly a better option than pesticides.

However, we don't want them on our porch during a nice summer BBQ, or by the pool when our kids are swimming. What can we do? Call a pest control company? Or start with things that you can do?

Let's start by looking at our landscaping. Let's remove flowers from the places we like to hang out. Now, let's add some green plants into the mix. Let's make sure they are strong smelling herbs.

A few plants and bushes that keep bees and wasps away

1. Spearmint

Gardeners often grow it in pots or planters due to its invasive, spreading rhizomes. The plant prefers partial shade, but can flourish in full sun to mostly shade.

2. Thyme

Thyme is best cultivated in a hot, sunny location with well-drained soil. It is generally planted in the spring, and thereafter grows as a perennial.

3. Eucalyptus

Although this is usually a tree, there are many varieties of Eucalyptus bushes that you canplant in your yard.

Don't forget to keep all food sources inside, and keep your garbage cans sealed. If you must put out food, include some plates of sliced cucumbers. The vegetable has an acid property that wasps and bees don't like.